Republicans issue late-session alerts

DES MOINES – Republican forces were issuing warnings Friday for Iowans opposed to proposed Democratic changes to Iowa's labor laws or income tax system not to let their guard down as the Legislature nears adjournment.

“As the final days of the 2009 legislative session are unfolding, secret meetings with arm twisting and horse trading are being led by House Democrat leaders,” Ed Failor Jr., president of Iowans for Tax Relief warned his members in an email alert.

Meanwhile, House GOP Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha issued a separate “action alert” email warning that majority Democrats in the Legislature may try to “make one last go” at passing labor-backed proposals that he contended would hurt Iowa's taxpayers and economy.

“One issue that seems to be gaining steam is instituting changes to Iowa's collective bargaining law,” he said in his email alert.

“The unions want to take away a school board's authority to get rid of bad teachers. Under the proposal we're hearing about, current school board rights are at risk. In 2008, the Democrats tried to gut school boards' rights and this proposal would be similar.”

Democratic leaders have indicated they would debate any of the four labor-backed changes that have been on the radar screen this session or legislation to repeal federal deductibility and state lower income tax rates if the 51st House vote materialized on any of those issues. Democrats hold a 56-44 edge in the House and a 32-18 majority in the Senate.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said Friday that lawmakers likely would not be able to adjourn this weekend as planned if any of the labor bills or the federal deductibility issue were to be debated yet this session.